The 10 Best TV Performances of 2025

This year in television gave us stunning breakouts (newcomer Owen Cooper in Adolescence), crowd-pleasing comebacks (good to see you, Matthew Macfadyen, even behind that scraggly Death by Lightning beard), and long-awaited kudos for journeymen (and -women) of the small screen (see: Katherine LaNasa on The Pitt). It was 12 months full of good TV — and truly great acting that made it all come alive. Here, in alphabetical order, are our 10 favorite performances of 2005.